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26 May 2001 : Cut off from the school syllabus...

 

BSENSE Delhi

 

Cut off from the school syllabus...

 

Sanghita Singh The debate over conducting experiments on animals might have

whipped up enough debates in the past, but the CBSE has finally come out

with a decision to delete from the school curriculum the dissection of rats,

mice and frogs.

 

Informs CBSE director of academics Bala Subramaniam, ``Three years back, we

offered students the choice of not carrying on with experiments involving

dissection. Now, we have decided to impose a blanket ban on any kind of

animal dissection. And, with a group of experts having identified certain

procedures which closely approximate experiments conducted on animals, these

procedures have also been recommended by the NCERT for schools to follow

henceforth.'' According to Union minister Maneka Gandhi, ``The CBSE has come

out with an ideal decision. In fact, the decision was long overdue. Three

years ago, when a court ruling made experimental dissection of animals

optional, around

 

70 to 80 per cent students chose to stay clear of dissection. In any case,

only one out of every 10,000 students goes on to become a doctor and medical

entrance exams do not demand a practical test.'' Counters Neeta Sehgal,

zoologist, Delhi University, ``One definitely acquires a better

understanding through practical knowledge. An alternative is offered by

learning through mass demonstrations. This could be beneficial to students

who want to move to the science stream. However, at the end of the day, it

all depends on the individual concerned.'' Close on the heels of the CBSE's

decision, the human resources ministry and Maneka have launched a campaign

at the state level, asking different educational bodies to consider the

relevance of the proposal.

 

``State level bodies have started responding to our plea and are reviewing

the proposal,'' informs the minister.

 

In fact, Maneka reasons that longterm benefits will accrue from the CBSE's

decision. ``The frog is slowly becoming extinct and dissection experiments

adversely affect the survival of the species. Moreover, the way these

experiments are generally carried out does not ensure foolproof safety

visavis health. Children could well run the risk of contracting

infections,'' she elaborates.

 

Side by side, DPS (RK Puram) principal Shyama Chona contends that her school

``is yet to receive the final letter from the CBSE.'' Elaborates Chona,

``Till such time as we receive a notification from the CBSE, we would prefer

to leave the decision with the children those who express the desire to

continue learning through dissection can do so; for the others, we will, in

all probability, develop a computer enabled dissection procedure.'' Well,

dissection might not find a place in the school curriculum any longer, but

students still have their work cut out.

 

 

 

Times Syndication Service

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